The Train Accident.

Manawatu Herald, 31 October 1895, Page 3

The Train Accident.

j The Hawera Stan gives the following particulars of the train acci* dent on Friday last : — The train was approaching Mangamawhiti bridge, on th&ptaKeide of the Tariki road, when W bullock suddenly appeared on theiind^ short distance ahead. As the train approached it ran forward instead of off the line, and just before the bridge was reached the engine struck the bullock and was shortly derailed. It forged ahead along the track tearing up the permanenfe way as it went, though it crossed the bridge and partially drew the train across. It then toppled over and went down an embankment, carrying with it six trucks pretty well laden with heavy stuff, all of which, with the engine, were telescoped into a heap. Luckily, the couplings gave way, twisted and broke just as a piece of soft wire, and left the passenger carriages on the bridge, although they had left the rails. The eaoape of the enginedriver, Travers, and the fireman, Halloran, was marvellous. How they escaped they cannot imagine, for one \irae mixed up in the debris when the crash came, and managed to crawl out practically without injury. Mr Macklam, of Hawera, who was a passenger by the train, informs us that though the accident wai of so serious a character, very little shock was felt in the carriages. He was in a half slumber, and was arousffthy a few jolts, but they were not so heavy aa . to suggest anything beyond .perhaps a little unusual roughness in the road ; at any rate, that was his impression till he was alarmed by the cry of a fellow-pas<> senger, who was in a position from which he commanded a full view of the front part of the train, and then he got up and saw that the engine and trucks were oscillating violently. Immediately they went over, and the carriage being disconnected came to a standstill. There were very few passengers in the train, two or three men, a lady and a girl. The lastmentioned, who had got on board at Taraki-road Station, supplied the amusing element in the affair, for no sooner did she get out of the carriage than iho took to her heels and cut back for Taraki. Guard Walsh at onoe took measures to telephone to New Plymouth for assistance, and engines having been sent from New Plymouth and Hawera the line was cleared. It is the opinion of those who were on the scene of the accident that the excellence of the puriri sleepers on the bridge saved the train being precipitated in the oreek. It is expected to cost between MOO ud £1000 to.repair the damage eaaitcl.